Secondary electric clock.



No. 649,589. Patented May I5, I900.

s. P. THBASHEB.

SECONDARY ELECTRIC cLocK.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1897) (No Model.) 3-Sheets-Sheet Ir wiwassTy: NORRIS rue-as :p, vn omumou wAsuwm-on, n. c.

No. 649,589. Patented May l5, I900. S. P; THRASHER.

SECONDARY ELECTRIC CLOCK.

(Application filed Mat. 15, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.-

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THE NORRIS PETERS ca, PHOTO-LUNG, WASHINGTON, u c.

Patented May l5, I900.

8. P. THBASHER. SECONDARY ELECTRIC CLOCK.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1897.)

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(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIQE.

SAMUEL P. TIIRASHER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

SECONDARY ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,589, dated May 15,1900.

Application filed March 15, 1897.

To a, whom it 11mg concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL P. THRASHER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tin1e-Indicating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to time-indicating devices, especially to those inwhich rotating drums carry the time-numerals; and my object is toimproveand simplify certain of the parts of the mechanism.

Figure l is a front elevation, partly broken away, showing the preferredembodiment of my device in operation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showingbut one of the pawls adapted to engage the drums. Fig. 3 is a viewshowing the train that operates the ten-minute drum. Fig. ais a sideelevation of the train that operates the hour-drum. Fig. 5 is asectional View on the line 09 m, Fig. 2, showing the arbors that windthe different movements. Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing the pawls,shafts, and supports in connection with the spools or drums, which areshown by dotted lines. Fig. 7 is a detailed view showing theconstruction and operation of the armature in connection with theelectromagnet and tripping-rod.

In the above preferred construction, A A are brackets secured to a boardor suitable standard B.

C is the base-plate of my mechanism and is held in proper position onthe brackets by means of the screws passingthrough the same. Arranged onthis plate are preferably independent movements E E E having theirframes made,preferably,of plates and pillars similar to frames ofordinary clock-movements and fastened in their relative positions bymeans of screws which extend through the base-plate and enter thepillars at the lower end of the respective frames. These frames aremade, preferably, alike, arranged in a straight line, and serve in partto support the drums carrying figures in a manner more particularlyhereinafter described.

F is a perforated mat or plate arranged to expose the figures andsupported by means of the forward-extending arms G G, secured to theframes at the upper ends of the moveof small towers.

Serial No. 627,472. (No model.)

ments E E respectively. Each movement is provided with an ordinary wheelor barrel and weight and train of gears connecting the main wheels withthe pinions of the shafts of the drums, as shown. v

The'winding mechanism of my device I have arranged as follows, (see Fig.5:) The barrel-arbor H of the movement E is adapted to have the keydirectly attached thereto. The arbor of the barrel of movement E isprovided with a winding-wheel I, made fast thereon, and is driven by asecond windingwheel J, mounted on its arbor, one end of which passesthrough one of the plates of the movement and is squared to receive thesocket end of the shaft K, which extends lengthwise to the outside of mydevice, having its outer end journaled in the outer plate of themovement E, and is adapted at that point to receive the winding-key inthe usual manner. In like manner I have provided the barrelarbor of themovement E with a similar winding-gearing and a similar winding shaft orarbor extending also lengthwise to the outside of the movement E, atwhich point the key is also applied when winding the movement E. Thisarrangement allows all the movements to be wound on the side of thedevice, which will be especially desirable when the same is built on alarge scale or when the nature of the front of the inclosure containingthe mechanism is such as to prevent ready access to the suitable windingof the arbors directly, as in the case of being used in a limited spacenot provided with an incasement which opens in the front, as in the caseBesides, as in the present construction, it admits of arranging theseveral winding-barrels substantially above the bottom line of the drumsand in close proximity thereto.

L L L are movable time-indicators, in the present embodiment pivoteddrums having figures arranged thereon to show the time of day. Thefigures in the present embodiment are painted on or otherwise attachedto the drums; but it is obvious that the drums will still carry thefigures whether they are actually attached to the drums or not, the drumL having the ten numerals from 1 to O, the drum L having the figures Oto 5, inclusive, and duplicated, and the drum L ICO being provided withthe numerals l to l2,inclusive; but as the arrangement and successivechanges of the numerals on the respective drums are substantially thesame as shown in my application under date of October 19, Serial No.609,293, I need not explain the same further in this description.

I will now proceed to describe the novel mechanism and means which Iemploy in the present invention to rotate the drums.

M M M are shafts of the respective drums L L L the two former shaftshaving one end journaled in the standard N, secured to the base-plate ofthe movements, and having their opposite ends supported by one of theplates of their respective movements, the opposite plates of the saidmovements being cut away around the said shaft, as shown by dotted linesin Fig. 2 and full lines in Fig. 3, and the latter shaft having its endssupported by the upper ends of one of the plates of the movements E E Ethe upper ends of the opposite plates being cut away about the shaft, asshown in Figs. 3 and 4, and each of the shafts of the said drums beinprovided with a pinion in mesh with the trains of their respectivemovements, by means of which the power of the weights 0 O O of themovements is communicated to the said shafts. The power of the weightsthus applied to the drums is constant and adapted at all times to causethem to turn when free to do so. As the drum L makes twelve revolutionsto one revolution of the drum L and as the drum L makes six revolutionsto one revolution of the drum L I have differentiated the gearing oftheir respective movements, and by providing the highest-geared trainfor the drum L, a lower-geared train for the drum L, and a stilllower-geared train for the drum L I have also accordingly reduced thesize of their respective weights, as shown in Fig. 1. I have shown alsoby dotted lines in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the respective trains substantiallyas differentiated in this device.

Another novel feature in the present invention, in connection with thedrums carrying figures to denote the time of day, I will now explain.

I have provided the drums with laterallyextending stop-fingers P I andtrip-fingers U U, properly secured to the rims of the drums and adaptedto engage the tripping and releasing pawls in the operation of stoppingand releasing the drums and when not in engagement with the saidtripping and releasing pawls the drums being left entirely free fromcontact with the said pawls in their rotation.

Referring to Fig. (3, in which I have shown the drums and fingers bydotted lines and the shafts with their pawls in full lines, Q is a stoppawl or dog mounted on a shaft R and weighted at its outer end andhaving its inner other end in engagement with a stop linger or pin ofthe drum L, as shown. When I say that the pawl engages thetime-indieator (in this case the drum) to prevent the rotation thereof,I do not mean that the pawl must necessarily engage the time-indicatoritself, because these stops which the pawl engages obviously need not beattached to the drum itself, and I therefore do not by that expressionmean to limit myself to a construction in which the stops arenecessarily on the time-indicator itself. T is a releasing-pawl on shaftR of the stop-pawl Q, and T a simi lar releasing-pawl on shaft of thestoppawl Q}. The said releasing-pawl T has its curved end disposed inthe pathway of the releasing-finger U on the units-of minutes drum andthe releasing-pawl T its curved end arranged in the pathway of thereleasing fingers U U on the tens-of-minut-es drum.

lVhen the device is in operation, it will be clearly seen that thestop-pawls referred to and operating as shown will only come in contactwith the stop-pins, being arranged independently of the rims of thedrums and in line with the stop-pins, and that likewise for the samereason the releasing-pawls will only come in contact with theirreleasing-pins. The limit of rotation of the pawls and their shafts maybe effected by any well'known means. Aside from avoiding undue frictionand expense of power by thus avoiding contact or bearing upon the rimsof the drums, substantially the whole width of the rim may be utilizedin space for the figures, and relatively, as compared with the size ofthe fig ures, much lighter rims can thus be employed.

As a means of setting my device from one side I have elongated the endsof the pawlshafts and arranged thereon, outside of the movement E, shortlevers or keys V V 'V', which when slightly depressed by the opera torfree their respective drums and permit the rotation thereof step by stepto any desired point or to the correct time. By this means not only thewinding, as previously described, but also the setting, may be cffected.from the side of my time mechanism. Another novel feature in thisinvention in connection with the operation of the drums is the meanswhich I employ for tripping or releasing the drum L, carrying the unitsof minutes, and is as follows: The stop-pawl Q is normally in engagementwith one of the ten stop-pins of the drum Land is provided with a pitmanW, extending downward through a perforation in a hammer X, which when atrest is disposed slightly above an adjustable collar Y, preferably madefast upon its lower end. This hammer, as I have termed it, is a weightsecured or made fast to the outer end of, preferably, a flat springZ,which forms an extension to an armature u of the electromagnet 71,fastened to the under side of the base-plate O, and is provided with ahanger 0, extending downward from the said plate to arrest and limit thesaid armature in its downward movement and upon which it is normally atrest, with the weight slightly IIO above the collar Y, as clearly shownin Fig. 7. When in operation, these parts operate to release the drum Leach minute as follows: The armature is first drawn upward by the forceof the magnet when put in circuit, preferably by a master-clock, to theposition shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7, having glided freely along thepitman W, now in its normal position, with the stop-pawl Q, to which itis connected, resting against a stop-pin, and upon being released by themagnet the armature falls of its gravity and, suddenly coming to a stopat the point on the hanger, forthwith imparts a sudden and forcible blowupon the collar Y of the pitman W, caused by the momentum of its hammerand the elasticity of the flat spring Z. I have not indicated theelectrical connections, nor any means to energize the magnet at properintervals; but some such arrangement would not require invention, andone instance of a clock-movement to which electrical connection is madeevery minute is shown in my previous application filed March 5, 1897,Serial No. 626,012. This sudden blow dislodges the holding-pawl frombehind its stop-pin; but the sudden reaction of the spring forthwithremoves the weight of the hammer from the collar of the pitman, leavingsaid pawl free to return to its normal position. To prevent so sudden arelease of the pawl from returning to its normal position behind thestop-pin just released in case the drum shall not have by this timemoved sufficiently forward to prevent the same, I have provided theshaft-pivot of the said stop-pawl shaft with an inclined elongatedbearing 01, so that when the pawl is holding the drum from turning, asis the case in its normal position, the pivot will be forced to itsupward and extreme backward posi-j tion, as particularly shown in Fig.2, the pawl having also receded in the direction the wheel when releasedis to turn. It will now be obvious that by the operation of drawing theengaging end of the pawl downward by the means shown both the force soexerted and the weight of the pawl and its shaft will invariably tend tosettle the pivot in the lower and extreme opposite position in theelongated bearing, at the same time carrying the pawl also sufficientlyin substantially the same direction to cause its engaging end in itssudden upward movement upon the recoil of the hammer to return to apoint beyond or ahead of the engaging face of the stop-pin just releasedand forthwith in readiness and in proper position to arrest the drum inits rotation by contact with the next succeeding stoppin. As a furthermeans of insuring the return of the engaging end of the stop-pawlreferred to to its normal position in successively engaging thestop-pins ot' the drum L I have arranged its weighted end e in suchmanner as to be at any time engaged by the stop-pins during the rotationof the drums and forced sufficiently outward thereby to positivelyreturn the said engaging end of the pawl to its normal position shouldgravity fail to do so. This construction and arrangement which I havecarried out in all the stoppawls insures their respective drums againstbeing released at any time, so as to be rotated, except by astep-by-step movement, thereby preventing undue velocity in turning.

Having shown the method of releasing one of the drums by anelectromagnet or other suitable power, I will now explain how therotation of the said drum so released operates to release the otherdrums.

As has been previously stated, the several drums are provided with powerconstantly applied thereto respectively, so that to effect the rotationof any of them at any time it is only necessary that they be releasedfrom the holding-pawls, as in the case of the operation of the drum L,which I have just explained.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the drum L is shown as heldfrom turning by means of the pawl Q in engagement with one of itsstop-pins. It will be further seen that the releasing or count pawl T onthe shaft R of the stop-pawl Q is about to be engaged by thereleasing-pin U on the drum L at its next forward movement, and thatalso when engaged the outer end of the releasing-pawl T will be bornedownward and cause its shaft to be turned sufficiently to depress theengaging end of the pawl Q, mounted on the same shaft, thereby releasingthe drum L and allowing it to turn until the next stop-pin thereonengages the pawl in a manner similar to the operation of the drum L, inconnection with the pawl Q, as above described, and that in like mannerthe releasing or count pawl T is adapted at the proper time to beengaged by one of the releasing-pins of the drum L dur in g itsrotations and cause the release of the drum L in like manner. The rimsof the drums L L L I preferably construct of thin sheets of celluloid orother suitable transparent material, and I arrange, preferably, theelectric lights f f in any suitable manner and in the positionsubstantially as shown to plainly show by transparency of the rims thefigures at night, which I regard as one of the important features of myinvention.

It is evident that various changes in the construction and relativearrangement of the parts herein shown and described might be made andyet be within the spirit and scope of my invention, and I do not wish tobe understood as in any way limiting myself to the construction andarrangement of the several parts hereinbefore described and set forth;but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a time -indicating device provided with time-drums having stopsthereon, a series of shafts suitably provided withholding and releasingpawls for said stops for effecting the proper changes of time when thedevice is in operation, and said shafts each ex- 4 Mateo tending to theside of the device and having their ends provided with the finger-piecesby which the said setting is effected, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

2. In a time-indicating device, in combination with drum L, pawl Q,engaging therewith, said pawl having a pivot located in an elongatedbearing cl, rod W, connected with said pawl Q and having a stop Y,weight or hammer X and spring Z, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

3. In a time-indicating device, in the tripping mechanism in combinationwith magnet Z1 and armature a, the spring end Z and weight X,substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a time-indicating device in combination, a movable time-indicator,means to move the same, a stop on the same, a pivoted pawl adapted torock on its pivot and engage said stop to hold said time-indicator,means to automatically rock said pawl, thereby releasing it from saidstop and move the same together with its pivot bodily from itsstop-engaging position to allow said time-indicator to move an d passsaid stop beyond said detent.

5. In a time-indicating device in combina: tion, a movable timeindicator, means to move the same, a stop on the same, a pivotedpawldetent adapted to rock on its pivot and engage said stop to holdsaid time-indicator, said pivot being held in an elongated bearing,means to automatically release said pawl-detent from said stop and movethe same bodily from its stop-engaging position to allow saidtime-indicator to move and pass said stop beyond said pawl-detent.

6. In a time-indicating device in combination, a numeral-carrying drum,means to rotate the same, a pin-stop on said drum, a pivoted pawl-detentadapted to rock on its pivot and engage said pin stop to hold said drum,said pivot being held in an elongated bearing, means to automaticallyrelease said pawl-detent from said pin-stop and move the same bodilyfrom its stop-engaging positionto allow said drum to move and pass saidpinstop beyond said pawl-detent.

7. In a time-indicating device in combination,a pivoted numeral-carryingdrum, means to rotate said drum, a stop on said drum, a pivotedpaWl-detent engaging said step to hold said drum, a support having aslot in which the pivot of said pawl is carried, means to automaticallyrelease said pawl detent from said stop and move the same bodily in saidslot from its stop-engaging position to allow said drum to move and passsaid stop beyond said pawl-detent.

8. In a time-indicating device in combination, a pivotednumeral-carrying drum,means to rotate said drum, a stop on said drum, apivoted pawl-detent engaging said stop to hold said drum from rotation,a support having an inclined slot in which the pivot of said pawl iscarried, means to automatically release said pawl-detcnt from said stopand move the same bodily from its stop-engaging position, the pivot ofsaid detent moving in said inclined slot, to allow said drum to rotateand pass said stop beyond said detent.

9. In a time-indicating device in combination, a pivotednumeral-carrying drum,means to rotate said drum, a stop on the same, apivoted pawl-detent engaging said stop to hold said drum from rotation,a support having a slot in which the pivot of said pawl is carried, andmeans, embracing a spring-arm fixed at one end and carrying a weighttoward the other end thereof and automatic means to bend said arm andrelease the same, said weight adapted to impart a quick hammer-stroke tosaid pawl, to automatically release said pawl-detent from said stop andmove the same bodily from its stop-engaging position to allow said drumto rotate and pass said stop beyond said pawl-detent.

10. In atime-indicating device in combina' tion, a rotatable timeindicator, a pivoted pawl engaging the same to prevent the rotationthereof, and means for simultaneously rocking said pawl to releasesaid time-indicator and moving said pawl bodily laterally of its pivot.

11. In a timeindicating device in combination, a plurality ofindependently-rotatable drums carrying time-indicating numerals on theirfaces, said drums located side by side the pivots of the same lyingparallel, an independent movement for each drum, a winding-shaft foreach movement, said winding shafts lying parallel and extending throughto the outside of said time-indicating device on the same side thereofand close together.

12. In a time-indicating device in combination, a rotatable drumcarrying time-numerals on its face, a pivoted pawl engaging said drum toprevent rotation of said drum, and means for simultaneously rocking saidpawl to release said drum and moving the same bodily laterally of itspivot.

13. In a time-indicating device in combination, a movable part providedwith a series of stops, a pivoted pawl engaging the same, aspring-hammer adapted to move said pawl, a

stop for said hammer to hold said hammer normally out of operativerelation with said pawl, means to move said hammer from said stop andallow the same to return and strike said stop, a portion of said hammerat one side of said stop being adapted to pass beyond its normalposition and exert a quick hammer-stroke on said pawl to move the same.

14. In a time-indicating device in combination, a rotatable drum, aseries of stops thereon, a pivoted pawl engaging said series of stops, amagnet, a hammer embracing a spring and a hammer-head thereon, a stopfor said hammer and a connection between said hammer and pawl, saidhammer being normally held out of engagement therewith by said stop,said magnet being adapted to move said hammer away from said stop andallow it to fall back upon the same to allow said head to pass beyondits normal position and strike the connection between it and said pawlto move said pawl.

15. In a time-indicating device in combination, a movabletime-indicator, means to move the same, a stop on the same, a detentengaging said stop to hold said time indicator, means to automaticallyrelease said detent from said stop and move the same bodily from .itsstop-engaging position embracing a springhammer adapted to give a quickhammerstroke to said detent.

16. In a time-indicating device in combination, a pivoted drum carryingtime-numerals, means to rotate the same in one direction, a plurality ofpins projecting in a circle from said drum, a pivoted pawl adapted toengage said pins to prevent the rotation of said drum in said direction,a second pivoted drum, means to move said second drum in the samedirection, a ratchet connected with said drum, a second pivoted pawl inengagement with said ratchet, means to automatically release said firstpawl from its ratchet and allow said means to rotate said first drumuntil said first pawl comes in contact with the next pin, and aprojection from said first drum adapted to engage and move a partconnected with said second pawl to release the same from the ratchetconnected with said second drum and allow said second drum to rotate.

17. In a time-indicating device in combination, a clock-face, a pair ofpivoted drums carrying time-n umerals adapted to show through saidclock-face, means to apply a continuous impulse to said drums to rotateboth in the same direction, a ratchet for each drum consisting oflaterally-projecting pins arranged in a circle on the periphery of saiddrums, a pivoted pawl for each ratchet adapted to engage the pins onsaid ratchets and prevent said drums from rotation in said direction,means to automatically release the pawl from one of said drums and allowthe same to rotate until engaged by said pawl, a releasing-pawlconnected with the pawl on the other drum and a pin carried by saidfirst drum adapted to engage and move the same and thereby said otherpawl to release said other drum and allow the same to rotate untilstopped by its pawl.

18. In a ti hie-indicating device in combination, a pivoted rotatingpart having a series of stops thereon, a pivoted pawl one arm of thesame engaging said stops to check the rotation of said part in onedirection, the other arm of said pawl having an inclined face adapted tobe struck by said stops on the rotation of said part in the otherdirection so as to allow the rotatable part to rotate in eitherdirection.

Signed at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, this 13th day of March, A. D. 1897.

SAMUEL P. THRASIIER.

Witnesses:

W. S. TUCKER, WILLIAM W. Morison.

